Your Mother

Mu'awiya ibn Haida said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah, towards whom should I be dutiful?" He said: "Your mother." I asked, "Then towards whom?" He replied: "Your mother." Again, I asked: "Then towards whom?" He answered: "Your mother." I said, "Then towards whom should I be dutiful?" He said: "Your father, and the next nearest relative and then the next nearest." (Reported by Imam Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad, narration number 3).

Allah calls Muslims to be good to parents time and time again in the Qur'an, and often He, All-Knowing, places the goodness to parents alongside worshiping Allah alone. Such as His saying:

"And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word." (17:23)

In the above Prophetic narration we are reminded of the importance of goodness to parents, and in particular to the goodness that is owed to our mother. And, this should be reason for Muslims to reflect, for when something is given additional importance and/or highlighted in a unique way there may be immense benefits to be gained. We know that our parents raised us, and by Allah's Mercy, brought us into this life. We also know that our parents are among the most vital people in our entire lives and that they have the greatest rights upon us, as their children. 

However, in this case our attention is drawn to the mother - and there are other Prophetic narrations that do this as well. Let us reflect about the mother and her unique contribution to us. In Arabic the word for "womb" is rahm, which has the same root as rahma (mercy). Furthermore, our teachers and scholars have noted that we are enjoined three times to be dutiful to our mother and that Allah describes three stages whereby the mother raised the child in a unique way: in pregnancy, in birthing, and in feeding. Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) explained to us that the mother has been emphasized because she is more behind doors than the father - as a result of which her rights are less protected that the father, whereas the community is guiding and watching the child outside the home with the father. Thus, says ibn Hajar, that the mother has been additionally protected and we as Muslims have been guided by this emphasis to pay attention in giving her goodness and being dutiful towards her. 

Give thanks to your parents inwardly as well as outwardly, and one way this can be done is to make du'a for parents after every salaah. To reflect upon what they have done, sacrificed and achieved and ask Allah to reward them, forgive them, and give them Paradise. 

And, Allah knows best.